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Coach says, 'they made me look like a monster' (leaves accident scene to attend football dinner)
NEWS OK.COM ^ | Fri September 14, 2007 | Tony Thornton

Posted on 09/14/2007 8:12:57 PM PDT by OKIEDOC

Tony Thornton Staff Writer MUSKOGEE — In normal circumstances, tonight's game between two of the state's top football teams should be capturing all of Muskogee football coach Matt Hennesy's attention. Instead, he was dealing with the fallout from a Thursday evening accident in which a 7-year-old boy's bike ran into the coach's car, which was pulling to a stop before leaving a parking lot.

The boy, Chase Thornton, suffered a broken collarbone, a knot on his head and road rash on a leg and shoulder.

The coach suffered a sullied reputation.

A story in Friday's Muskogee Phoenix quoted Hennesy as saying, "I ought to be dealing with tomorrow night's game, not this crap.”

The newspaper also quoted Hennesy as saying, "I'm not going to file a report against a little kid, even though my car was damaged. It was the kid's fault.”

Hennesy said the context of his statements was misunderstood.

"They made me look like a monster,” the coach said Friday.

Hennesy admitted he may have erred by not calling police after the accident. He said none of several witnesses, including a registered nurse, thought to call the police, either.

The accident happened about 6 p.m. as Hennesy was leaving the parking lot of Indian Bowl stadium. His Muskogee Roughers team, ranked third in the state's top class, had just finished its last practice before tonight's game against top-ranked Tulsa Union.

He said the boy, identified as Chase Thornton, ran into the front of his car while trying to dart across the street. Hennesy said he was looking the other direction and didn't realize his car had been hit until a football player who was riding with him told him.

The coach said he and several other people got out of their cars to help. Hennesy said he called the boy's father, who said he was taking care of a baby and would come as soon as he could.

By then, Hennesy said, his car was blocking the exit, and he was running 20 minutes late to a team dinner that included his superintendent and principal, so he left after the nurse told him she would tend to the injured boy. Two of his players carried the boy to the training room, Hennesy said.

He said he never heard from the child's father again.

The boy's father could not be reached for comment this morning.

About 10 p.m. Thursday, Hennessy said, he was watching game film when a Muskogee police officer called and asked him to come to the hospital and fill out a report.

The officer criticized him for not calling police after the accident but said no citation would be issued, Hennesy said.

The coach said he told the officer, "I'm not going to file a charge, because it's a kid.”

He said a Muskogee Phoenix reporter called his cell phone about 11 p.m. as he filled out the police report.

That's when Hennesy uttered the line that prompted a flood of e-mail responses Friday from angry readers.

"In no way, when I say I shouldn't be dealing with this crap was I referring to the kid or his parents,” Hennesy said Friday.

Instead, he said he was talking about filling out the police report and doing that interview.

By late this morning, Hennesy said he had received about 50 phone calls, all supportive, "from people who know me and know there's no way” his quotes reflected his character.

Police have given information about the accident to the district attorney's office, which will determine if any laws were broken.

Under Oklahoma law, the driver of a vehicle involved in an injury accident is required to immediately call police.

Assistant District Attorney James Walters said Friday he had not seen the police report and has not made a decision on the incident.

CONTRIBUTING: The Associated Press


TOPICS: Sports
KEYWORDS: accident; child; coach; dumbkid; football; makekidpay4it; ohsosensitive; stupidkid
I believe the coach needs to get his priorities straight.

What a sorry excuse for a leader of young men.

1 posted on 09/14/2007 8:13:01 PM PDT by OKIEDOC
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To: OKIEDOC
"They made me look like a monster,” the coach said Friday.

No, I would say they were making him to look like the a-hole he is!

2 posted on 09/14/2007 8:17:13 PM PDT by org.whodat (What's the difference between a Democrat and a republican????)
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To: org.whodat
I have had several Okies send this to me so thought FReepers would like to read the story.
3 posted on 09/14/2007 8:20:13 PM PDT by OKIEDOC (Kalifornia, a red state wannabe. I don't take Ex Lax I just read the New York Times.)
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To: OKIEDOC
"They made me look like a monster,” the coach said Friday.

Why on earth do people make such jerks of themselves and then blame other people for making them look bad when the facts are pointed out? They did it to themselves!!!

Hello, you looked like a monster because your are one. A heartless one at that.

4 posted on 09/14/2007 8:34:48 PM PDT by metmom (Welfare was never meant to be a career choice.)
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To: OKIEDOC

Most insensitive of him.


5 posted on 09/14/2007 8:39:22 PM PDT by Ciexyz
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To: metmom

Good observation.


6 posted on 09/14/2007 9:02:16 PM PDT by OKIEDOC (Kalifornia, a red state wannabe. I don't take Ex Lax I just read the New York Times.)
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To: metmom

Exactly! The words came out of HIS mouth ...


7 posted on 09/14/2007 9:16:28 PM PDT by pandoraou812 ( zero tolerance to the will of Allah ...... dilligaf? with an efg.....)
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To: metmom

Hi Metmom, I agree

BTW, FReepmail on its way later in the day. Got some news for you all and why I was missing for a month (from the country and from FR).


8 posted on 09/15/2007 3:09:32 AM PDT by indcons
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To: OKIEDOC
a 7-year-old boy's bike ran into the coach's car, which was pulling to a stop before leaving a parking lot.

What is going on in Muskogee? Bikes and cars running around at all hours unattended - shocking! That bike should have been in the garage doing its homework, not gallivanting around hooking up with strange cars!

9 posted on 09/15/2007 6:50:17 AM PDT by Tax-chick ("My parrot thinks you're cute. I think so, too!")
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To: OKIEDOC
By late this morning, Hennesy said he had received about 50 phone calls, all supportive, "from people who know me and know there's no way” his quotes reflected his character.

****************

So, he's a liar as well as an insensitive, immature clod.

10 posted on 09/15/2007 6:53:36 AM PDT by trisham (Zen is not easy. It takes effort to attain nothingness. And then what do you have? Bupkis.)
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To: trisham
... about 50 phone calls, all supportive, "from people who don't give a flying FReep about anything but a winning football team, and would leap to his defense if he were accused of sexual, rather than vehicular, battery with the boy.
11 posted on 09/15/2007 7:01:17 AM PDT by Tax-chick ("My parrot thinks you're cute. I think so, too!")
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To: Tax-chick

Good point. Agreed.


12 posted on 09/15/2007 7:07:04 AM PDT by trisham (Zen is not easy. It takes effort to attain nothingness. And then what do you have? Bupkis.)
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To: Tax-chick
Excellent observation.
13 posted on 09/15/2007 7:57:20 AM PDT by OKIEDOC (Kalifornia, a red state wannabe. I don't take Ex Lax I just read the New York Times.)
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To: OKIEDOC

Thank you.


14 posted on 09/15/2007 8:37:49 AM PDT by Tax-chick ("My parrot thinks you're cute. I think so, too!")
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To: OKIEDOC
I'm curious how the boy hit the car hard enough to break his collar bone, yet the coach never felt him hit the car?

And just to tease you a bit, would you feel the same way about this if the coach was Bob Stoops? ;^)

15 posted on 09/15/2007 8:45:59 AM PDT by WhyisaTexasgirlinPA (Guns up Red Raiders!)
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To: OKIEDOC
The newspaper also quoted Hennesy as saying, "I'm not going to file a report against a little kid, even though my car was damaged. It was the kid's fault.”

Isn't that big of him? What a man.

16 posted on 09/15/2007 4:07:52 PM PDT by ukie55
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To: ukie55
"The newspaper also quoted Hennesy as saying, "I'm not going to file a report against a little kid, even though my car was damaged. It was the kid's fault.”

IMHO, as soon as the officer heard that statement, he should have arrested him for failing to file an accident report earlier. Then let the coach sit in jail for a while thinking about why he is responsible to fill out a report (since he can't figure it out on his own.)

I think if my kid was on his team, I'd encourage him to find a new team. What would the coach do if one of his players gets clipped by an opposing team player, is laying injured on the field, and the clock is running down. Go on with the next play and let others to worry about it? After all, it isn't his fault. /sarc off

17 posted on 09/15/2007 4:17:46 PM PDT by Cvengr (The violence of evil is met with the violence of righteousness, justice, love and grace.)
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